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Fatwa CenterWhat to do about a tree that people hang amulets on
Question
Asalaamu alaykum. There is a pomegranate tree in my home on which people tie amulets and red threads and so on because some branches are pointed out of my home. Some people say that these amulets are black magic. Should I cut down the tree or simply remove the amulets and threads?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We advise you to implore Allaah, The Exalted, to safeguard you, your family, and your wealth. It has been reported that Ibn ʻUmar 
said:
"The Messenger of Allaah never abandoned these supplications, every morning and evening: 'Allaahumma inni as'aluka al-ʻafwa wal-ʻaafiyah fi ad-dunya wal-aakhirah. Allaahumma inni as'aluka al-ʻafwa wal-ʻaafiyah fi deeni wa dunyaaya wa ahli wa maali. Allaahumma ustur ʻawraati, wa aamin rawʻaati wahfathni min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfi, wa ʻan yameeni wa ʻan shimaali, wa min fawqi, wa ʻauthu bika an ughtaala min tahti.' (O Allaah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. O Allaah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religious and my worldly affairs. O Allaah, conceal my faults, calm my fears, and protect me from before me and behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge with You from being taken unaware from beneath me)." [Abu Daawood - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]
As for the amulets that people hang on your tree’s branches, you should destroy them and seek refuge with Allaah Almighty while destroying them. You may also seek the assistance of those experienced in reciting Ruqyah (Quranic healing). Please refer to fatwa 0262186.
As for the tree itself, you should not cut it down as long as it is beneficial, for that would constitute destroying wealth. Islamic law encourages tree planting, urging Muslims to plant trees and to water them and take care of them. The Prophet said, "If the Final Hour comes while you have a palm-cutting in your hand and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, then plant it." [Ahmad - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]
Moreover, Anas reported that the Prophet said, "Never does a Muslim plant trees or cultivate land and birds or a man or a beast eats out of them but that is a charity on his behalf." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Allaah, The Exalted, has forbidden destroying crops and censured the one who does that. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allaah does not like corruption.} [Quran 2:205]
However, if you noticed that people are attached to this tree or believe that it can bring them any benefit or ward off any harm, then you can cut it down so as to eliminate the source of evil, safeguard people’s beliefs, and foster Tawheed (unique Oneness of Allaah). Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani 
wrote, "A report has been cited by Ibn Saʻd on the authority of Naafiʻ with a good chain of narration that ʻUmar was informed that a group of people approached the tree and prayed near it (to attain blessings through it); so he admonished them and then ordered that it be cut down, so it was cut down." [Fat-h Al-Baari Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
ʻUmar ibn Al-Khattaab is one of the rightly-guided Caliphs whose example we are enjoined to follow.
The Prophet said, "...so hold fast onto my Sunnah and the examples of the rightly-guided Caliphs who will come after me; adhere to them and hold fast to it. Beware of religious innovations because every religious innovation is a misguidance." [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, and Ibn Maajah - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)] ]
Allaah knows best.
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